Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has sent a message of support to the picketing writers in NY and LA.

The Democrat released the following statement on Monday:

"I stand with the writers. The Guild's demand is a test of whether media corporations are going to give writers a fair share of the wealth their work creates or continue concentrating profits in the hands of their executives. I urge the producers to work with the writers so that everyone can get back to work."

Hopefully this strike will end soon, but the writers guild and producers guild aren't even talking anymore!

It would be a real shame if some ordinary folks working on shows lost their jobs if this walkout drags on.

Thank you for posting about the strike. It is very serious and very scary. These writers have families to support and the last strike in 1988 the writers were starved. They ended up losing their homes. They were on strike for 6 months and they could've taken the deal 22 weeks earlier but like I said they were starved. This need all the attention it can get.

good for obama this is an important subject that needs to get attention. Lets hope they can come to a resolution soon because it will effect us before we know it when popular shows such as greys anatomy or heroes won't be on because they only have so many back up episodes

Obama is doing his best Jesse Jackson impersonation, "Oh, look a camera" This guy has 0 substance….go back to Washington and VOTE Obama and stop missing more senate votes than any other senator this yr. This guy is fraud, he once had morals and scruples about 3 yrs ago before he sold out. Go Ron Paul 2008

My sister was fired yesterday from Paramount. She was an assistant to a writer but if he's not coming to work I guess they don't need her. She lives paycheck to paycheck trying to make it in Hollywood and She'll be lucky to stay out of bankruptcy now.

Ron Paul broke RECORDS with his moneybomb yesterday, and even the mainstream media picked it up, and you're reporting about Obama supporting the strike? Like Obama really gives a shit about Hollywood writers. He's just trying to court your vote! Cover a candidate who does care about your freedom. RON PAUL RLOVEUTION 08!!!

This guy is a joke. He wont even stand with his hand on his heart for the Pledge of Allegiance and he wants to be our Commander in chief! Please Perez, dont let him have un-just publicity by even showing his face on your fabulash website! xo

WOW OBAMA! Way to use your media power to give light to a noble cause. I'm sorry but who really gives a shit??? These guys make a shit ton of $$$!!! This guy is an opportunist who should not be trusted. Go back to dancing on Ellen you hack! HILLARY 08!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's the sick thing folks, the average writer who is actually working and directly affected by this strike is making $200K+ on average. The only thing that really needs to be addressed is internet royalties as there is nothing in the current contract for that. The DVD royalties are dead because the producers, rightfully, said "we put up all the money and all the risk, why should you get even more money?"
All the PA's and grips/electricians have already been let go. Average salary for them: $12K-$60K. The writers were asked to stay at the table, but they refused now people who aren't making nearly a quarter of a million a year are fucked. Good one, assholes.

He will say anything to get elected. GO WRITERS by the way!!! If someone said that birth control was an important issue, he'd get up and act like it was the most imporant thing. He does the same thing in Illinois as a Senator. Says a lot and does nothing. I don't want a President like that.

where are you getting the info that writers make 200 grand average a year? are you HIGH? not even the writers that WORK make that. and if they make it, they sure as hell don't bring it HOME. 10 percent to agent, 5 percent to lawyer, 10 percent to manager, then 35 percent to uncle sam! do the math people! sure, there are a few big writers. but the odds of that are like WINNING THE LOTTO!
the odds of becoming a professional baseball player are better than the odds of becoming a PAID writer. writers do what most people don't have the balls to do. take a RISK in their careers every day, every month, every year. we never know when we are going to get another job. it's job to job and it could stop any day.
as for all the "ordinary folks" that work on these shows…. if they want better pay/benefits/conditions then they can organize like we did in the 1940's and fight for them! most workers in this industry belong to a union.
i wonder if perez will shake his fingers at his precious actors when they go on strike?